CHAPTER V
HOW RAMES FOUGHT THE PRINCE OF KESH
Now for a whole moon there were great festivals in Thebes, and in all ofthese Neter-Tua, "Glorious in Ra, Hathor Strong in Beauty, MorningStar of Amen," must take her part as new-crowned Queen of Egypt. Feastfollowed feast, and at each of them one of the suitors of her hand wasthe guest of honour.
Then after it was done, Pharaoh her father and his councillors wouldwait upon her and ask if this man was pleasing to her. Being wise, Tuawould give no direct answer, only of most of them she was rid in thisway.
She demanded that the writing of the dream of her mother, Ahura, shouldbe brought and read before her, and when it had been read she pointedout that Amen promised to her a royal lover, and that these chiefs andgenerals were not royal, therefore it was not of them that Amen spoke,nor did she dare to turn her eyes on one whom the god had forbidden toher.
Of others who declared that they were kings, but who, being unable toleave their countries, were represented by ambassadors, she said thatnot having seen them she could say nothing. When they appeared at theCourt of Egypt, she would consider them.
So at length only one suitor was left, the man whom she knew wellPharaoh and his councillors desired that she should take as husband.This was Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, whose father, an aged king, ruledat Napata, a great city far to the south, situated in a land that wascalled an island because the river Nile embraced it in its two arms.It was said that after Egypt this country was the richest in the wholeworld, for there gold was so plentiful that men thought it of less valuethan copper and iron; also there were mines in which beautiful stoneswere found, and the soil grew corn in abundance.
Moreover, once in the far past, a race of Pharaohs sprung from this cityof Napata, had sat on the throne of Egypt, until at length the people ofEgypt, headed by the priests, had risen and overthrown them becausethey were foreigners and had introduced Nubian customs into the land.Therefore it was decreed by an unalterable law that none of their raceshould ever again wear the Double Crown. Of the descendants of thesePharaohs, Rames, Tua's playmate, was the last lawful child.
But although the Egyptians had cast them down, at heart they alwaysgrieved over the rich territory of Napata, which was lost to them, forwhen those Pharaohs fell Kesh declared itself independent and set upanother dynasty to rule over it, of which dynasty Amathel Prince of Keshwas the heir.
Therefore they hoped that it might come back to them by marriage betweenAmathel and the young Queen Neter-Tua. Ever since she was born the greatlords and councillors of Egypt, yes, and Pharaoh himself, seeing that hehad no son to whom he might marry her after the fashion of the country,had been working to this end. It was by secret treaty that the PrinceAmathel was present at the crowning of the Queen, of whose hand he hadbeen assured on the sole condition that he came to dwell with her atThebes. It is true that there were other suitors, but these, as all ofthem knew well, were but pawns in a game played to amuse the people.
The king destined to take the great queen captive was Amathel and noother. Tua knew it, for had not Asti told her, and was it not because ofher fear of this man and her love for Rames that she had dared to committhe sacrilege of attempting to summon Amen from the skies? Still, asyet, the Pharaoh had not spoken to her of Amathel, nor had she met him.It was said that he had been present at her crowning in disguise, forthis proud prince gave out that were she ten times Queen of Egypt,he would not pledge himself to wed as his royal wife, one who wasdispleasing to him, and that therefore he must see her before he pressedhis suit.
Now that he had seen her in her loveliness and glory, he announced thathe was well satisfied, which was but half the truth, for, in fact, shehad set all his southern blood on fire, and there was nothing that hedesired more than to call her wife.
On the night which had been appointed for Amathel to meet his destinedbride, a feast had been prepared richer by far than any that wentbefore. Tua, feigning ignorance, on entering the great unroofed hall litwith hundreds of torches down all its length, and seeing the multitudesat the tables, asked of the Pharaoh, her father, who was the guest thathe would welcome with such magnificence which seemed worthy of a godrather than of a man.
"My daughter," answered the old monarch nervously, "it is none otherthan the Prince of Kesh, who in his own country they worship as divine,as we are worshipped here in Egypt, and who, in truth, is, or will be,one of the greatest of kings."
"Kesh!" she answered, "I thought that we claimed sovereignty over thatland."
"Once it was ours, Daughter," said her father with a sigh, "or ratherthe kings of Kesh were also kings of Egypt, but their dynasty fellbefore my great-great-grandfather was called to the throne, and now butthree of their blood are left, Mermes, Captain of the Guard of Amen;Asti, the Seer and Priestess, his wife, your foster-mother and waitinglady, and the young Count Rames, a soldier in our army, who was yourplaymate, and as you may remember saved you from the sacred crocodile."
"Yes, I remember," said Tua. "But then why is not Mermes King of Kesh?"
"Because the people of the city of Napata raised up another house torule over them, of whom Amathel is the heir."
"A usurping heir, surely, my father, if there be anything in blood."
"Say not that, Tua," replied Pharaoh sharply, "for then Mermes should bePharaoh in our place also."
Tua made no reply, only as they took their seats in the golden chairs atthe head of the hall, she asked carelessly:
"Is this Prince of Kesh also a suitor for my hand, O Pharaoh?"
"What else should he be, my daughter? Did you not know it? Be graciousto him now, since it is decreed that you shall take him as a husband.Hush! answer not. He comes."
As he spoke a sound of wild music arose, and at the far end of the greathall appeared a band of players gorgeously attired, who blew horns madefrom small tusks of the elephant, clashed brazen cymbals and beat gildeddrums. These advanced a little way up the hall and stood there playing,while after them marched a bodyguard of twenty gigantic Nubian soldierswho carried broad-bladed spears with shields of hippopotamus hidecuriously worked, and were clothed in tunics and caps of leopard-skin.
Next appeared the Prince of Kesh himself, a short, stout,broad-shouldered young man, thick-featured, heavy-faced, and havinglarge, rolling eyes. He was clad in festal garments, and hung about withheavy chains of gold fastened with clasps of glittering stones,while from his crisp, black hair rose a tall plume of nodding ostrichfeathers. Fan bearers walked beside him, and the train of his long cloakwas borne by two black and hideous dwarfs, full-grown men but no tallerthan a child of eight.
With one swift glance, while he was yet far away, Tua studied the manfrom head to foot, and hated him as she had never hated anyone before.Then she looked over his head, as from her raised seat upon the dais shewas able to do, and saw that behind him came a second guard of pickedEgyptian soldiers, and that in command of them, simply clad in hisscaled armour of bronze, and wearing upon his thigh the golden-handledsword that Pharaoh had given him, was none other than the young CountRames, her playmate and foster-brother, the man whom her heart loved. Atthe sight of his tall and noble form and fine-cut face rising above thecoarse, squat figure of the Ethiopian prince, Tua blushed rosy red, butPharaoh noting it, only thought, as others did, that it was because nowfor the first time her eyes fell upon him who would be her husband.
Why, Tua wondered, was Rames chosen to attend upon the Prince Amathel?At once the answer rose in her mind. Doubtless it had been done togratify the pride of Amathel, not by Pharaoh, who would know nothingof such matters, but by some bribed councillor, or steward of thehousehold. Rames was of more ancient blood than Amathel, and by rightshould be the King of Kesh, as he should also be Pharaoh of Egypt;therefore, to humble him he was set to wait upon Amathel.
Moreover, it was guessed that the young Queen looked kindly upon thisCount Rames with whom she had been nursed, and who, like herself, wasbeautiful to behold. Therefore, to abase him in her eyes h
e had beencommanded to appear walking in the train of Amathel and given chargeover his sacred person at the feast.
In a moment Tua understood it all, and made a vow before her fatherAmen that soon or late those who had planned this outrage should pay itsprice, nor did she forget that promise in the after days.
Now the Prince had mounted the dais and was bowing low to Pharaoh and toher, and they must rise and bow in answer. Then Pharaoh welcomed him toEgypt in few, well-chosen words, giving him all his titles and speakingmeaningly of the ancient ties which had linked their kingdoms, tieswhich, he prayed, might yet draw them close again.
He ceased and looked at Tua who, as Queen, had also a speech to deliverthat had been given to her in writing. Although she remembered this wellenough, for the roll lay beside her, never a word would she read, butturned round and bade one of her waiting-ladies bring her a fan.
So after a pause that seemed somewhat long Amathel delivered his answerthat was learned by rote, for it replied to "gentle words from the lipsof the divine Queen that made his heart to flower like the desert afterrain," not one of which had she spoken. Thereon Tua, looking overthe top of her fan, saw Rames smile grimly, while unable to restrainthemselves, some of the great personages at the feast broke outlaughing, and bowed down their heads to hide their merriment.
With an angry scowl the Prince turned and commanded that the giftsshould be brought. Now slaves advanced bearing cups of worked gold,elephants and other beasts fashioned in gold, and golden vases full ofincense, which he presented to Pharaoh on behalf of his father, the Kingof Kesh and himself, saying boastfully that in his country such thingswere common, and that he would have brought more of them had it not beenfor their weight.
When Pharaoh had thanked him, answering gently that Egypt too was notpoor, as he hoped that he would find upon the morrow, the Prince, onhis own behalf alone, offered to the Queen other presents, amongthem pectorals and necklaces without price fashioned of amethysts andsapphires. Also, because she was known to be the first of musicians andthe sweetest-voiced lady in the land--for these were the greatest of thegifts that Tua had from Amen--he gave to her a wonderfully worked harpof ivory with golden strings, the frame of the harp being fashioned tothe shape of a woman, and two black female slaves laden with ornaments,who were said to be the best singers in the Southern Land.
Now Pharaoh whispered to Tua to put on one of the necklaces, but shewould not, saying that the colour of the stones did not match her whiterobe and the blue lotus flowers which she wore. Instead, she thankedAmathel coldly but courteously, and without looking at his gifts, toldthe royal Nurse, Asti, who stood behind her, to bear them away and toplace them at a distance, as the perfumes that had been poured overthem, oppressed her. Only, as though by an afterthought, she bade themleave the ivory harp.
Thus inauspiciously enough the feast began. At it Amathel drank much ofthe sweet wine of Asi or Cyprus, commanding Rames, who stood behind him,to fill his cup again and again, though whether he did this because hewas nearest to him, or to lower him to the rank of a butler, Tua did notknow. At least, having no choice, Rames obeyed, though cup-filling wasno fitting task for a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh's guard.
When the waiting women, clad in net worked with spangles of gold,had borne away the meats, conjurers appeared who did wonderful feats,amongst other things causing a likeness of Queen Neter-Tua wearing herroyal robes and having a star upon her brow, to arise out of a vase.
Then, as they had arranged, they strove to do the same for the PrinceAmathel, but Asti who had more magic than all of them, watching behindTua's chair, put out her strength and threw a spell upon them.
Behold! instead of the form of the Prince, which these conjurerssummoned loudly and by name, there appeared out of the vase a monkeywearing a crown and feathers that yet resembled him somewhat, whichblack and hideous ape stood there for a while seeming to gibber at them,then fell down and vanished away.
Now some of the audience laughed and some were silent, but Pharaoh, notknowing whether this were a plot or an evil omen from the gods, frownedand looked anxiously at his guest. As it chanced, however, the Prince,fired with wine, was so engaged in staring at the loveliness of Tua,that he took no note of the thing, while the Queen looked upwards andseemed to see nothing. As for the conjurers, they fled from the hall,fearing for their lives, and wondering what strong spirit had enteredinto the vase and spoilt the trick which they had prepared.
As they went singers and dancing women hurriedly took their place, tillTua, wearying of the stare of Amathel, waved her hand and said that shewished to hear those two Nubian slaves whose voices were said to be sowonderful. So they were brought forward with their harps, and havingprostrated themselves, began to play and sing very sweetly, Nubian songsmelancholy and wild, whereof few could understand the meaning. So welldid they sing, indeed, that when they had done, Neter-Tua said:
"You have pleased me much, and in payment I give you a royal gift. Igive you your freedom, and appoint that henceforth you shall sing beforethe Court, if you think fit to stay here, not as slaves but for hire."
Then the two women prostrated themselves again before her Majesty andblessed her, for they knew that they could earn wealth by their gift,and the rich courtiers taking the Queen's cue, flung rings and ornamentsto them, so that in a minute they got more gold than ever they haddreamed of, who were but kidnapped slaves. But Prince Amathel grew angryand said:
"Some might have been pleased to keep the priceless gift of the bestsingers in the world."
"Do you say that these sweet-voiced women are the best singers in theworld, O Prince?" asked Tua, speaking to him for the first time. "Nowif you will be pleased to listen, you provoke me to make trial of my ownsmall skill that I may learn how far I fall short of 'the best singersin the world.'"
Then she lifted up the ivory harp with the strings of gold and swepther fingers over it, trying its notes and adjusting them with the agatescrews, looking at Amathel all the while with a challenge in her lovelyeyes.
"Nay, nay, my daughter," said Pharaoh, "it is scarcely fitting that aqueen of Egypt should sing before all this noble company."
"Why not, my father?" she asked. "To-night we all do honour to the heirof his Majesty of Kesh. Pharaoh receives him, Pharaoh's daughter acceptshis gifts, the highest in the land surround him," then she paused andadded slowly, "one of blood more ancient than his own waits on him ascup-bearer, one whose race built up the throne his father fills," andshe pointed to Rames, who stood near by holding the vase of wine. "Why,then, should not Egypt's queen seek to please our royal guest as bestshe may--since she has no other gift to give him?"
Then in the dead silence which followed this bold speech, whereof nonecould mistake the meaning, Neter-Tua, Morning Star of Amen, rose fromher seat. Pressing the ivory harp against her young breast, shebent over it, her head crowned with the crown of Upper Egypt whereonglistened the royal _uraeus_, a snake about to strike, and swept thewell-tuned strings.
Such magic was in her touch that instantly all else was forgotten, eventhe Pharaoh leaned back in his golden chair to listen. Softly she struckat first, then by slow degrees ever louder till the music of the harprang through the pillared hall. Now, at length, she lifted up herheavenly voice and began to sing in a strain so wild and sweet that itseemed to pierce to the watching stars.
It was a sad and ancient love-tale that she sang, which told how apriestess of Hathor of high degree loved and was beloved by a simplescribe whom she might not wed. It told how the scribe, maddened by hispassion, crept at night into the very sanctuary of the temple hoping tofind her there, and for his sacrilege was slain by the angry goddess.It told how the beautiful priestess, coming alone to make prayer in thesanctuary for strength to resist her love, stumbled over the lover'scorpse and, knowing it, died of grief. It told how Hathor, goddessof love, melted by the piteous sight, breathed back life into theirnostrils, and since they might not remain upon earth, wafted them to theUnder-world, where they awoke and
embraced and dwell on for ever and foraye, triumphant and rejoicing.
All had heard this old, old story, but none had ever heard it sodivinely sung. As Tua's pure and lovely voice floated over them thelisteners seemed to see that lover, daring all in his desire, creep intothe solemn sanctuary of the temple. They saw Hathor appear in her wrathand smite him cold in death. They saw the beauteous priestess with herlamp, and heard her wail her life away upon her darling's corpse; saw,too, the dead borne by spirits over the borders of the world.
Then came that last burst of music thrilling and divine, and its rich,passionate notes seemed to open the heavens to their sight. There in thedeep sky they perceived the awakening of the lovers and their embraceof perfect joy, and when a glory hid them, heard the victorious chant ofthe priestess of love sighing itself away, faint and ever fainter, tillat length its last distant echoes died in the utter silence of the placeof souls.
Tua ceased her music. Resting her still quivering harp upon the board,she sank back in her chair of state, outworn, trembling, while in herpale face the blue eyes shone like stars. There was stillness inthe hall; the spell of that magical voice lay on the listeners; noneapplauded, it seemed even that none dared to move, for men rememberedthat this wonderful young Queen was said to be daughter of Amen, Masterof the world, and thought that it had been given to them to hearken, notto a royal maiden, but to a goddess of the skies.
Quiet they sat as though sleep had smitten them, only every man of theirnumber stared at the sweet pale face and at those radiant eyes. Drunkwith passion and with wine, Amathel, Prince of Kesh, leaned his heavyhead upon his hand and stared like the rest. But those eyes did not stayon him. Had he been a stone they could not have noted him less; theypassed over him seeking something beyond.
Slowly he turned to see what it might be at which the Morning Star ofAmen gazed, and perceived that the young captain who waited on him, hewho was said to be of a race more ancient and purer than his own, hewhose house had reigned in the Southern Land when his ancestors were buttraffickers in gold, was also gazing at this royal singer. Yes, he bentforward to gaze as though a spell drew him, a spell, or the eyes ofthe Queen, and there was that upon his face which even a drunken Nubiancould not fail to understand.
In the hands of Rames was the tall, golden vase of wine, and as Amathelthrust back his chair its topmost ivory bar struck the foot of thevase and tilted it, so that the red wine poured in a torrent over thePrince's head and gorgeous robes, staining him from his crest of plumesto his feet as though with blood. Up sprang the Prince of Kesh roaringwith fury.
"Dog-descended slave!" he shouted. "Hog-headed brother of swine, is itthus that you wait upon my Royalty?" and with the cup in his hand hesmote Rames on the face, then drew the sword at his side to kill him.
But Rames also wore a sword, that sword hafted with the golden crocodilewhich Pharaoh had given him long ago--that sword which Asti theforesighted had seen red with royal blood. With a wild, low cry hesnatched it from its sheath, and to avoid the blow that Amathel struckat him before he could guard himself, sprang backwards from the daisto the open space in the hall that had been left clear for the dancers.After him leapt Amathel calling him "Coward," and next instant thepillars echoed, not with Tua's music but with the stern ringing ofbronze upon bronze.
Now in their fear and amaze men looked up to Pharaoh, waiting his word,but Pharaoh, overcome by the horror of the scene, appeared to haveswooned; at least, he lay back in his chair with his eyes shut like oneasleep. Then they looked to the Queen, but Tua made no sign, only withparted lips and heaving breast watched, watched and waited for the end.
As for Rames he forgot everything save that he, a soldier and a nobleof royal race, had been struck across the mouth by a black Nubian whocalled himself a prince. His blood boiled up in him, and through ared haze as it were, he saw Tua's glorious eyes beckoning him on to avictory. He saw and sprang as springs the lion of the desert, sprangstraight at the throat of Amathel. The blow went high, an ostrich plumefloated to the ground--no more, and Amathel was a sturdy fighter and hadthe strength of madness. Moreover, his was the longer weapon; it fellupon the scales of armour of Rames and beat him back, it fell againon his shoulder and struck him to his knee. It fell a third time,and glancing from the mail wounded him in the thigh so that the bloodflowed. Now a soldier of Pharaoh's guard shouted to encourage hiscaptain, and the Nubians shouted back, crying to their prince to slitthe hog's throat.
Then Rames seemed to awake. He leapt from his knees, he smote and theblow went home, though the iron which the Nubian wore beneath his robestayed it. He smote again more fiercely, and now it was the bloodof Amathel that flowed. Then bending almost to the ground before theanswering stroke, he leapt and thrust with all the strength of younglimbs trained to war. He thrust and behold! between the broad shouldersof Amathel pierced from breast to back, appeared the point of theEgyptian's sword. For a moment the prince stood still, then he fellbackwards heavily and lay dead.
Now, with a shout of rage the giants of the Nubian guard rushed at Ramesto avenge their master's death, so that he must fly backwards beforetheir spears, backwards into the ranks of the Pharaoh's guard. In aflash the Nubians were on them also and, how none could tell, a fearfulfray began, for these soldiers hated each other, as their fathers haddone before them, and there were none who could come between them,since at this feast no man bore weapons save the guards. Fierce was thebattle, but the Nubians lacked a captain while Rames led veterans ofThebes picked for their valour.
The giants began to give. Here and there they fell till at length butthree of them were left upon their feet, who threw down their arms andcried for mercy. Then it was for the first time that Rames understoodwhat he had done. With bent head, his red sword in his hand, he climbedthe dais and knelt before the throne of Pharaoh, saying:
"I have avenged my honour and the honour of Egypt. Slay me, O Pharaoh!"
But Pharaoh made no answer for his swoon still held him.
Then Rames turned to Tua and said:
"Pharaoh sleeps, but in your hand is the sceptre. Slay me, O Queen!"
Now Tua, who all this while had watched like one frozen into stone,seemed to thaw to life again. Her danger was past. She could never beforced to wed that coarse, black-souled Nubian, for Rames had killedhim. Yonder he lay dead in all his finery with his hideous giants abouthim like fallen trees, and oh! in her rebellious human heart she blessedRames for the deed.
But as she, who was trained in statecraft, knew well enough, if he hadescaped the sword of Prince Amathel, it was but to fall into a perilfrom which there seemed to be no escape. This dead prince was the heirof a great king, of a king so great that for a century Egypt had daredto make no war upon his country, for it was far away, well-fortified andhard to come at across deserts and through savage tribes. Moreover, theman had been slain at a feast in Pharaoh's Court, and by an officer ofPharaoh's guard, which afterwards had killed his escort under the eyesof Egypt's monarchs, the hand of one of whom he sought in marriage. Sucha deed must mean a bitter war for Egypt, and to those who struck theblow--death, as Rames himself knew well.
Tua looked at him kneeling before her, and her heart ached. Fiercely,despairingly she thought, throwing her soul afar to seek out wisdom anda way of escape for Rames. Presently in the blackness of her mind therearose a plan and, as ever was her fashion, she acted swiftly. Liftingher head she commanded that the doors should be locked and guarded sothat none might go in or out, and that those physicians who were amongstthe company should attend to the wounded, and to Pharaoh, who wasill. Then she called the High Council of the Kingdom, all of whom weregathered there about her, and spoke in a cold, calm voice, while thecompany flocked round to listen.
"Lords and people," she said, "the gods for their own purposes havesuffered a fearful thing to come to pass. Egypt's guest and his guardhave been slain before Egypt's kings, yes, at their feast and in theirvery presence, and it will be said far and wide that this has been doneby treachery. Yet you
know well, as I do, that it was no treachery,but a mischance. The divine prince who is dead, as all of you saw,grew drunken after the fashion of his people, and in his drunkenness hestruck a high-born man, a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh, whoto do him greater honour was set to wait upon him, calling him by vilenames, and drew his sword upon him to kill him. Am I right? Did you seeand hear these things?"
"Aye," answered the Council and the audience.
"Then," went on Tua, "this officer, forgetting all save his outragedhonour, dared to fight for his life even against the Prince of Kesh, andbeing the better man, slew him. Afterwards the servants of the Prince ofKesh attacked him and Pharaoh's guard, and were conquered and the mostof them killed, since none here had arms wherewith to part them. Have Ispoken truth?"
"Yea, O Queen," they answered again by their spokesman. "Rames and theroyal guard have little blame in the matter," and from the rest of themrose a murmur of assent.
"Now," went on Tua with gathering confidence, for she felt that all sawwith her eyes, "to add to our woes Pharaoh, my father, has been smittenby the gods. He sleeps; he cannot speak; I know not whether he will liveor die, and therefore it would seem that I, the duly-crowned Queen ofEgypt, must act for him as was provided in such a case, since the matteris very urgent and may not be delayed. Is it your will," she added,addressing the Council, "that I should so act as the gods may show mehow to do?"
"It is right and fitting," answered the Vizier, the King's companion, onbehalf of all of them.
"Then, priests, lords and people," continued the Queen, "what courseshall we take in this sore strait? Speaking with the voice of all ofyou and on your behalf, I can command that the Count Rames and all thoseother chosen men whom Pharaoh loves, who fought with him, shall be slainforthwith. This, indeed," she added slowly, "I should wish to do, sincealthough Rames had suffered intolerable insult such as no high-born mancan be asked to bear even from a prince, and he and all of them werebut fighting to save their lives and to show the Nubians that we are notcowards here in Egypt, without doubt they have conquered and slain theheir of Kesh and his black giants who were our guests, and for this deedtheir lives are forfeit."
She paused watching, while although here and there a voice answered"Yes" or "They must die," from the rest arose a murmur of dissent. Forin their hearts the company were on the side of Rames and Pharaoh'sguards. Moreover, they were proud of the young captain's skill andcourage, and glad that the Nubians, whom they hated with an ancienthate, had been defeated by the lesser men of Egypt, some of whom weretheir friends or relatives.
Now, while they argued among themselves Tua rose from her chair andwent to look at Pharaoh, whom the physicians were attending, chafing hishands and pouring water on his brow. Presently she returned with tearsstanding in her beautiful eyes, for she loved her father, and said in aheavy voice:
"Alas! Pharaoh is very ill. Set the evil has smitten him, and it ishard, my people, that he perchance may be taken from us and we mustbear such woe, because of the ill behaviour of a royal foreigner, for Icannot forget that it was he who caused this tumult."
The audience agreed that it was very hard, and looked angrily at thesurviving Nubians, but Tua, conquering herself, continued:
"We must bear the blows that the fates rain on us, nor suffer ourprivate grief to dull the sword of justice. Now, as I have said, eventhough we love them as our brothers or our husbands, yet the Count Ramesand his brave comrades should perish by a death of shame, such a deathas little befits the flower of Pharaoh's guard."
Again she paused, then went on in the midst of an intense silence, foreven the physicians ceased from their work to hearken to her decree, assupreme judge of Egypt.
"And yet, and yet, my people, even as I was about to pass sentence uponthem, uttering the doom that may not be recalled, some guardian spiritof our land sent a thought into my heart, on which I think it rightto take your judgment. If we destroy these men, as I desire to destroythem, will they not say in the Southern Country and in all the nationsaround, that first they had been told to murder the Prince of Kesh andhis escort, and then were themselves executed to cover up our crime?Will it not be believed that there is blood upon the hands of Pharaohand of Egypt, the blood of a royal guest who, it is well known, waswelcomed here with love and joy, that he might--oh! forgive me, I am buta maiden, I cannot say it. Nay, pity me not and answer not till I haveset out all the case as best I may, which I fear me is but ill. It iscertain that this will be said--aye, and believed, and we of Egypt allcalled traitors, and that these men, who after all, however evil hasbeen their deed, are brave and upright, will be written in all the booksof all the lands as common murderers, and go down to Osiris with thatill name branded on their brows. Yes, and their shame will cling to thepure hands of Pharaoh and his councillors."
Now at this picture the people murmured, and some of the noble womenthere began to weep outright.
"But," proceeded Tua with her pleading voice, "how if we were to takeanother course? How if we commanded this Count Rames and his companionsto journey, with an escort such as befits the Majesty of Pharaoh, to thefar city of Napata, and there to lay before the great king of that landby writings and the mouths of witnesses, all the sad story of the deathof his only son? How if we sent letters to this Majesty of Kesh, saying,'Thou hast heard our tale, thou knowest all our woe. Now judge. If thouart noble-hearted and it pleases thee to acquit these men, acquit themand we will praise thee. But if thou art wroth and stern and it pleasesthee to condemn these men, condemn them, and send them back to us forpunishment, that punishment which thou dost decree.' Is that plan good,my people? Can his Majesty of Kesh complain if he is made judge in hisown cause? Can the kings and captains of other lands then declare thatin Egypt we work murder on our guests? Tell me, who have so littlewisdom, if this plan is good, as I dare to say to you, it seems to me."
Now with one voice the Council and all the guests, and especially theguards themselves who were on their trial, save Rames, who still kneltin silence before the Queen, cried out that it was very good. Yes; theyclapped their hands and shouted, vowing to each other that this youngQueen of theirs was the Spirit of Wisdom come to earth, and that herexcellent person was filled with the soul of a god.
But she frowned at their praises and, holding up her sceptre, sternlycommanded silence.
"Such is your decree, O my Council," she cried, "and the decree of allyou here present, who are the noblest of my people, and I, as I am boundby my oath of crowning, proclaim and ratify it, I, Neter-Tua, who amnamed Star and Daughter of Amen, who am named Glorious in Ra, who amnamed Hathor, Strong in Beauty, who am crowned Queen of the Upper andthe Lower Land. I proclaim--write it down, O Scribes, and let itbe registered this night that the decree may stand while the worldendures--that two thousand of the choicest troops of Egypt shall sail upNile, forthwith, for Kesh, and that in command of them, so that allmay know his crime, shall go the young Count Rames, and with him thoseothers who also did the deed of blood."
Now at this announcement, which sounded more like promotion thandisgrace, some started and Rames looked up, quivering in all his limbs.
"I proclaim," went on Tua quickly, "that when they are come to Napatathey shall kneel before its king and submit themselves to the judgmentof his Majesty, and having been judged, shall return and report to usthe judgment of his Majesty, that it may be carried out as his Majestyof Kesh shall appoint. Let the troops and the ships be made ready thisvery night, and meanwhile, save when he appears before us to take hisorders as general, in token of our wrath, we banish the Count Rames fromour Court and Presence, and place his companions under guard."
So spoke Tua, and the royal decree having been written down swiftly andread aloud, she sealed and signed with her sign-manual as Queen, that itmight not be changed or altered, and commanded that copies of it shouldbe sent to all the Governors of the Nomes of Egypt, and a duplicateprepared and despatched with this royal embassy, for so she named it, tobe delivered to the King of Kesh with
the letters of condolence, and thepresents of ceremony, and the body of Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, nowdivine in Osiris.
Then, at length, the doors were thrown open and the company dispersed,Rames and the guard being led away by the Council and placed in safekeeping. Also Pharaoh, still senseless but breathing quietly, wascarried to his bed, and the dead were taken to the embalmers, whilstTua, so weary that she could scarcely walk, departed to her chambersleaning on the shoulder of the royal Nurse, Asti, the mother of Rames.